3 Denmark

The Media Council for Children and Young People uses the following classifications.

• A Approval of the film for general admittance.

• 7 Approval of the film for general admittance, but not recommended for children under the age of 7.

• 11 Approval of the film for admittance of children from the age of 11.

• 15 Approval of the film for admittance of children from the age of 15.

Children who have turned 7 are allowed admission to all films if accompanied by an adult (a person turned 18). Consequently it is the parents responsibility to ensure that their children do not watch violent and hard-core pornographic films.

Films accessible to the public do not have to be classified by the Media Council but consequently must be labelled as 15 -Approval of the film for admittance of children from the age of 15 – no matter the harmlessness of the film.

4 France

Prior to showing in theaters, a license must be obtained from the Ministry of Culture. Upon the advice of the commission pertaining to cinema movies, the minister decides either not to grant the license (a very rare occurrence), either to grant a license among the 5 following:

• valid for all audiences;
• with a prohibition for minors of 12;
• with a prohibition for minors of 16;
• with a prohibition for minors of 18.

In addition, the movie may be considered "pornographic or inciting to violence" (colloquially referred to as " X-rated"). In this case, it bears high taxation and may only be shown in specific theaters, which are now few in France. This classification is not used for merely violent movies, or movies containing mere erotic scenes.

Classifications, as all administrative decisions, may be appealed before the courts ( Conseil d'État at litigation). A highly publicized example of this is the movie Baise-moiBaise-moi is a book first published in 1999 and authored by Virginie Despentes. A film based on the book, and with the same name, was released the following year. The film, directed by Despentes and actress Coralie Trinh Thi, received intense media covera, containing scenes of graphic sex and violence; it was initially not rated "pornographic or inciting to violence", but associations sued and obtained the "X classification".

Related link: movie classifications (in French)

5 Germany

The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (FSK) has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories -

• no age limit: for all ages
• 6: no one under 6 years admitted
• 12: people 12 or older admitted, children between 6 and 11 only when accompanied by parent
• 16: no one under 16 years admitted
• no youth admitted: only adults (18 or older) admitted

6 Hong Kong

The Film Censorship Authority in Hong Kong has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories -

• I suitable for all ages
• IIA not suitable for children
• IIB not suitable for young persons and children
• III for persons aged 18 or above only

While Categories I, IIA and IIB are advisory in nature, the age restriction (18 or above) for Category III films is strictly enforced.

Apart from films, packagings of Category III videotapes and laserdiscs and advertising materials of Category III films must be approved by the Film Censorship Authority (FCA) before they can be published or publicly displayed.

7 Ireland

The Film Censor's OfficeIn the Republic of Ireland, the Film Censor's Office places films, videos and DVDs into one of the following categories: G 'General' Suitable for viewing by anyone. PG 'Parental Guidance' Parental guidance is recommended for children under the age of 12. under which films, videos and DVDs are placed into one of the following categories:

• G - 'General' - Suitable for viewing by anyone.
• PG - 'Parental Guidance' - Parental guidance is recommended for children under the age of 12.
• 12PG - 'Parent supervision required for children under 12' - A person over 18 years of age must accompany a child under the age of 12 when seeing a film theatrically. This is very similar to the 12A certificate that the BBFC introduced in AugustSee August (album) for the album by Eric Clapton. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. Named in honor of Augustus Caesar. The month reputedly has 31 days because Augustus wanted as many days as Julius Caesar's Ju 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom.
• 15PG - 'Parent supervision required for children under 15' - A much stronger warning that, although the film may be unsuitable for a child under the age of 15 watching alone, a child with an adult may be admitted to the film's screening.
• 18 - 'Adults only' - The film is suitable only for adults. A person under this age will not be admitted. 9 Songs in OctoberOctober is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. From the Latin octo for " eight" (it was originally the eighth month of the year, before January and February were inserted). Holidays Halloween Thanksgiving Day in Canada on 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co became the first film featuring explicit sex scenes to receive a certificate.

Films without certification are not ipso facto banned and have been shown at film festivalA film festival is a mostly annual festival showcasing films, usually of a recent date, sometimes with a focus on a specific genre (e. animation) or subject (e. gay and lesbian film festivals). The world's first major film festival was held in Venice in 1s and arthouse clubs such as the Irish Film Institute .

8 New Zealand

The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) first divides films into two categories ; unrestricted and restricted. Unrestricted films are assigned a rating label. Restricted films are assigned a classification label. The common labels in each category are as follows:

Unrestricted films:

• G Suitable for all.
• PG Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers.
• M Mature; Suitable for people 16 years or older. Parental decision whether to let children watch a particular film

Restricted films:

• R13 Restricted to 13 year-olds and older
• R15 Restricted to 15 year-olds and older
• R16 Restricted to 16 year-olds and older
• R18 Restricted to 18 year-olds and older
• R A special restriction (details of the restriction noted to the right of the label). Equivalent to the old 'RP' classification.

9 Sweden

The Swedish National Board of Film Censors (SBB) reviews all pre-recorded video recordings prior to showing at a public gathering or entertainment (subject to some exceptions) in accordance with law SFS 1990:886. It is a criminal offence to hire or sell videos containg unlawful depictions of violence, and to hire or sell videos depicting realistic violence to children below the age of 15.

The following categories are used by the SBB:

• Suitable for all ages
• 7 years Suitable for children of at least 7 years of age. Younger children are not admitted unless accompanied by an adult.
• 11 years Suitable for children of at least 11 years of age. Children of at least 7 years of age are admitted if accompanied by an adult.
• 15 years No one under 16 years of age admitted.

10 Taiwan (Republic of China)

The Government Information Office of the Republic of China ( Taiwan) divides licensed films into one of the following four legally binding categories in Chinese characters (with approximate but unofficial translation):

• 普遍級(普) General - General audiences may all view.
• 保護級(護) Protective - Children under 6 years old must not view. Children aged at least 6 but less than 12 require guidance of accompanying parents, teachers, or adult relatives to view.
• 輔導級(輔) Guidance - Children under 12 years old must not view. People aged at least 12 but less than 18 require attentive guidance of parents or teachers to view.
• 限制級(限) Restricted - People under 18 years old must not view.

Related and official link: Classifications of movies (in traditional Chinese)

11 United Kingdom

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rates both motion pictures and videos. Local authorities are responsible for accepting and enforcing the BBFC's recommended ratings for cinema showings, whereas those for videos are legally binding.

The current BBFC system is:

• Uc (Universal Children) Suitable for all but especially for young children (video only).
• U (Universal) Suitable for all.
• PG All ages admitted, but Parental Guidance is recommended. It is the board's policy that movies rated "PG" should not disturb a child of about 8 years of age or older; however, "parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset young or more sensitive children."
• 12A/12 No one under 12 years of age may see a "12A" film (unless accompanied by an adult) in a cinema or rent or buy a "12" video.
• 15 No one under 15 years of age may see a "15" film or rent or buy a "15" video.
• 18 Suitable only for adults. No one under 18 years of age may see an "18" film or rent or buy an "18" video.
• R18 To be supplied only in licensed sex shops or cinemas to adults of not less than 18 years of age.
• E Exempt from BBFC rating system (so technically not a rating). (Often these are specialist educational programmes)

For a history of the BBFC's classification system, see History of British Film Certificates .

12 United States

In the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) issues ratings for movies. The system was instituted in 1968 and is voluntary; however, most movie theater chains will not show unrated films.

The ratings as they exist in 2003 are:

• G - General Audience - Movie suitable for all ages
• PG - Parental guidance suggested - Contains mature themes, may not be suitable for small children
• PG-13 - Parents strongly cautioned - Contains mature themes, may not be suitable for children under 13 years old
• R - Restricted - Contains mature themes (usually sex and/or violence). Children under 17 not admitted without an adult
• NC-17 - No children under 17 admitted.
• NR or Not Rated - Not an MPAA rating. Used for independent or foreign films that are in limited release and have not been submitted to the MPAA for a rating classification. Also used by a film that is soon to be released and has trailers out for promotional purposes, but has not yet received a final rating.

For history and more details, see MPAA film rating system.

See also: TV Parental Guidelines

13 External link

• List of certificates recorded in the IMDb database. Note that while extensive, this list is not exhaustive, and that it mixes current and old rating systems and does not specify which is which, thus making it difficult to use.

Motion picture rating systems

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